Plastic cover for automobile seats



l atentcrl Jan- 25.1949

UNiTED STAIES PATENT OFFICE PLASTIC COVER ITMGBI SEAIS George Aibert Lyon. Allenlmrst, N. J. Application May 14, 1945, Serin] No. 593,684

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 155-179) This invention relates to a cover for a scat which may be cithcr in the form of a detacbablc replaccable cover or may be in the iorm ci a permanent upholstcry-like covcring for a scat. More particulaxly, my invention relates to a one picce plastic cover especially adaptcd for use with automobile vebiclc scats.

An objcct of this invention cring for a scat which will always have a smooth neat appcarancc and in which wrinklcs arc auto,- matically eliminatcd by rcason of the inhcrent charactcrlstics of the covcring.

Anothcr objcct of this invention scat covcring which can be prc-formcd'in a givcn sclf-sustaining shape and applied bodfly 'to the coopcrating portions of the scat.

Still anothcr objcct of the invention is to provide a. pre-formcd plastic covering for a scat which includcs portions adaptcd to automatically yield whcn the scat is ocoupicd and to spring back to thcir original contours upon relcasc of pressure so that the covering in'usc always appears to be smooth and neat.

Yet another obicct of this invention is to provide a plastic covering for a scat whlch lcnds itseli readily to cleaning and which is of a highly sanitary charaoter.

Another and further objcct of the invention is to provide a covering for a scat which lends itsclf to fabrication on a large production socle and which not only may be economically madc but also may be applied with grcat case to scat structures without any substantial changes in the scat.

A furthcr obicct of the invention is to provide a scat covcring of more lasting shape and appcarance and which may be made in a great many ranges cf colors and color combinations.

In accordance with the gcneral fcaturcs of this invention there is provided a cover for seats such is to provide a is to provide a covas in automobiles and the li kc which includes a scat part propcr and a back part, tecover comprising integral portions made of rcsiliently flexible form-sustaining plastic material shapc to contorm gnerally with the scat and back parts and also including 'cdgc portions bulgcd away from the cxtrcmities of the which bulgcd portions will yield outwardly upon occupancy of the scat but will sprlng back to their original contours without dciormation upon release of pressure so that the cover is always smooth and neat appcaring, A

Anothcr teaturc of the invention relates to the forming of the bulged portions in the aforesaid cover by undcrcutting marginal portions oi back and scat parts pre-formcd in V the edgcs of the flangcs the scat cover and which marginal portions may convcntional or satoi the scat and back in Figure 1 with a portion brokcn away to show how the covering hugs the scat propcr; and

Figure 3 is a fragmcntary view partly in section of a modiflcd form of the invention whcreln the covering is built in as a part of the scat rathcr than being in the form of a dctachablc cover as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As shown in the drawings:

I have illustratcd in the accompanying drawings a more or less convcntionai type of automobile seat to whlch my plastic cover is applicd. It is, of course, clcar, howcver, that the invention is not limited to the particular shape of the scat but may be used with cqual advantage with many diierent shapcs and contours of seats such as are used in automobiles, vehicles, airplancs and the likc. My invention can also be applied to great advantagc to fumiture of the outdoor type since it a watcr-resistant plastic is used the covcring will not only serve to ornamcnt the scat but will also serve to protect it from the elements.

As best a scat portion propcr dcsignated by the refercnce character H! and a back part Il. Thcsc parts, as is customary, arc angularly arrangcd with respect to each other and may be of any sultable spring and cushion construction.

The plastic cover angular portions l2 and l3 whioh follow vcry closcly the external contours of the scat and back parts il! and H. Thesc portions 12 and l3 are the dcsired angular rclationship and are made of snob-plastic materiai that thcy arc self-sustaining as to this pre-formcd shapc.

Thc portions 12 and l3 of the covering in-. cludc marginal fiange portions l5 and l6 which cxtcnd around the base of the scat l 0 and the margin or skirt of the back II. The angular cover is self-sustaining as to its angular shape and is adapted to be snappcd over the scat and back portions Il) and I l. In applying the cover l5 and l8 are adapted to shown in Figure 2, the scat embraccs for this scat comprises two be strtcheckor expandcd over the edges of the scat and back portions in and H. Moreover the inclination of the sides of the base and back of the scat itself assists in keeping the cover on the scat.

Inwardly of the margins tions I purposcly provide peripherai bulge l8l9. Ihis bulge is on cach of the portions i! and I! and is adapted to resiliently yicld outwardly when the scat is subjccted tc pressure by reason of occupancy. I have illustrated by dotted lines how une of these periphcral bulgcs la will yield as shown in Figure; 2 when the back covering portion i3is depressed inwardly. However, upon release of pressure, the bulge immediatel springs back to its original contour. The advantage of this arrangement is of the covering porthe coverlng with ,a

that I am enablcd to take up the exccss mate-- ria] due to the flexure of the normally convex scat covcring portion without the occurrence of any permanent wrinkles or dciormations in the covcring portions Thus the portions I: and i! are always smooth in appearance and will not tend to buckle or crack in use. This cnables the cover to have a much more lasting usage.

while in Figures 1 and 2 I have illustrated my cover as being a detachable one for covering the upholstery of an existing seat;I fully contcmplate that the covering may in itself be the upholstcry for the scat. I have designated such an alternative form of the invention by the rcicrence character 20 in Figure 3. In this form. the plastic cover 20 is secured to the scat proper as a permanent part thcreof and includes full skirts 2! and 22 for cmbracing the side flanges of the scat proDer. In bath forms l'astening elcments 23, such as tacks, screws, snap fastcncrs or the like may be used to positively fasten the side fianges 01 the cover to the scat il such fastcning is desired.

Also. the plastic cover 20 may be provided with the perlpherai bulgcs such as the bulge "a which, however, in this form may bc normally filled with a. material of the scat. Howcver, upon flexure of the scat by reason of occupancy, thebulgc will yicld outwardly in the same manner as the bulscs [8 and l9. 4

Bath forms of my invention may be prc-iormed in a given shape irom suitable plastic material such, for cxample, as s nthetic plastic. Excellent results may be obtained by using a plastic material such, for examplc, as cthyl cellulose or a vinyl rcsin. Cellulose acetatc may also be uscd, but a plastic should preierably be cmployed which will have the requisitc resiliency to cnable it to rcturn automaticaily to its original contour after fiexurc. It is the mushroom-like cfiect due to the bulgs in the plastic cover that cnablcs the cover-ta yield when deflccted without permanently wrinkling or buckling the plastic. Hcncc il; will be appreciated that the plastic must be et a form-sustaining but reSillently dcflectablc material.

The plastic cmploycd may be of difierent colors and in fact the back and scat portions may be colorcd difiercntly if it is so desired so as to obtain difierent contrasting caler eflects.

Any suitablc equipment maybc employed for pre-iabricating the plastic although it is contcm'platcd that the shaping of the plastic must be effected undcr hcat so that a proper set of the plastic is accomplished.

It will, oi' course, be undcrstood that various details of construction may be varicd through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is. thereiore. not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon othcrwise than necissltated by the scope of the appended cltflms.

I claim as my invention:

1-. A cover for scats such as an automobile scat and the like which includes a scat proper and a back part. said cover comprising intcgral portiens made oisheet thin rcsiliently pliable formsustaining plastic material shapcd to conform generally with said scat and back parts and also including edge portions bulgcd away irom the extrcmities ci the back and scat parts and which bulgcd portions will yicld outwardly upon occupancy of the scat but will spring back of their own accord to their original contour without deformationupon release of pressure on the scat and back parts.

2. A cover for scats such as an automobile scat and the likc which includes a scat proper and a back part. said cover comprising intcgral portions made of shect thin rcsilientiy pliable form-sustainlng plastic material shaped to conform generally with said scat and back parts and also including edge portions bulgcd away from the extremities 01 the back and scat parts and which bulgcd portions will yicld outwardly upon occupancy ofthc'scat but will spring back of their own accord to their original contour without deformation upon release of pressure on the scat and back parts, said scat portions having their margins beyond the bulgcd portions provided with means for attaching the cover to the automobile scat.

3. As an article of manufacture, a scat covering oi pre-formcd plastic shect material having its margins turned down and undrcut in form so as to reslliently yieid in use and to spring back to its original contour upon release of pressure without any delormation oi the same.

4. The article ot claim 3 further characterized by the covering including both integral scat and back portions and with the undercut cxtending clear around so that the edges of the covcring around the scat and back portions is bulgcd slightly outrvardly and which bulgcd portions givc way when the scat is subjccted to the pressure of a person occupying the same.

5. As an article oi manufacturc a scat covcrlng of prc-formed plastic shect thin material selfsustaining as to form and rcsillently yieldablc in use without permanent deformation, said covering including a scat portion yieldabie downwardiy upon occunancy thereoi and springablcback of its own resilicncy to its original contour upon release oi! the dcflecting pressure, said covering including marginal skirt portions adaptcd to be strctched over the sides covering may be snapped thercon.

6. A cover for seats such as automobile seats and the like which include cushioned load-sustaining and side wall portions, said cover comprising a shect thin panel 01 rcsilicntly pliable 'form-sustaining plastic material shaped to conform gcneraily with the load sustaining portion of a scat and including marginal flangcs extending bcyond said load-sustaining portion and turncd for engagement at their extremities with the side portions of the scat, said marginal flanges bcing bulgcd outwardly adjacent the Juncture with said panel and aifording a springy connection resiliently yicldable upon the imposition of a deflecting load upon said panel toward said loadsustaining portion ofthe scat, Whereby to accommodate said dcflections without substv)ntiaily of the scat whereby the dlsturbng the engagement of the extremities of Number said marginal flanges with said side portions 01 687,741 the seat. 1,527,249 GEORGE AUBERT LYON. 1,853,617 5 1,942,296 RFRENCES CIIED 2 2 1 341 The followlng rferences are of record in the 2,308364 file of this patent: 2,354336 UNIIED STATES PATENTS m Number Name Date Numbe! 434,495 Woods Aug.19,1890 28,119

536,538 McIntire Max. 26, 1895 Name Date Gllger et a] Dec. 3, 1901 Chapman Feb. 24, 1925 Hutchcrot Apr. 12, 1932 Kfllen Jan. 2, 1934 Turner Apr. 28, 1942 Saurer Jan. 19, 1943 Stedman July 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britaln 1896 

